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NOW EP78 「めざせブロードウェイのミュージカルスター！前嶋利菜さん」 New York Now with Yasuko

·28 min·2 clips

Rina Maejima reveals how her unusually loud voice and small stature shape her journey to become a Broadway musical star.

The episode 'New York Now with Yasuko' features an interview with Rina Maejima, a musical actor from Tokyo living in New York. Host Yasuko Numata introduces Rina as someone shining brightly in New York. Rina explains her background, being from Tokyo with roots in Miyako Island, and her lifelong love for musicals. She describes her powerful voice, which often draws attention, and her small stature of under 150 cm. Rina recounts singing the US national anthem at a Mets stadium event featuring Shohei Ohtani. The host visits Rina's apartment, noting its green walls and colorful decor, including a world map and New York memorabilia. Rina shows affirmations posted above her bed, such as 'I am a great musical star on Broadway,' which she reads daily. She discusses her vocal warm-up routine, involving humming and vibrato exercises to maintain her soprano range. Rina studied at Tokyo University of the Arts' vocal music department, where she focused on classical music but also sang musical pieces with a supportive teacher. She then attended AMDA in Manhattan for two years of intensive musical theater training. Rina talks about the high competition in New York, with many aspiring actors from across the US and internationally. She faced challenges in auditions due to her height, as some roles required uniform dancer heights or stereotypical American looks. Despite this, she believes there are unique roles for people like her. Rina has performed in off-off-Broadway shows and local theaters but aims for a Broadway stage. She has been in New York for nine years, adapting her skills over time, such as learning tumbling and sword techniques to enhance her appeal. Rina's father is described as a bohemian artist, while her mother is a career nurse now back in Miyako Island. She shares a dialect word 'Tandigatandi' from Miyako, meaning thank you. Rina worked on a cruise ship, performing songs from ABBA and The Beatles, and enjoyed morning coffee on deck. She admits to getting quiet and depressed at times but focuses on finding joy. The episode ends with Rina's advice to enjoy everything in life and her humming a jingle for the show.

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